Murray’s ability to anticipate the play
Because the Penguins threw 41 shots on net, there might be a lot of ‘Jonathan Bernier stole two points for the Leafs out there’, but the reality is Matthew Murray stole a point for Pittsburgh.
The rookie netminder was tremendous in making 34 stops, including three breakaway saves, two in the third period.
Murray reads shooters so well and what scouts rave about Murray is a special ability on anticipating the play.
I’ve wrote about this in the past of how scouts view a goaltenders ability to anticipate the play as a great barometer for projecting success for a goaltender and that’s been the No. 1 area that catches the attention of evaluators with Murray.
When you combine that with Murray’s athleticism and size, you have the makings of a long-term No. 1 goaltender.
The Penguins have not missed Marc Andre Fleury one bit. If the Penguins were to get a General Manager in place this summer who has a long-term vision, a good one wouldn’t be against selling high on Fleury and going cheap in goal to upgrade the roster in other areas with the return for Fleury and saved dollars by going with Murray and a low-cost veteran netminder as the goaltending tandem.
Entertaining Hockey, No Results
The Penguins under Mike Sullivan have become much more entertaining. The system resembles Dan Bylsma’s to some extent and the forwards are releasing up ice much quicker leading to the Penguins playing with more pace off the rush.
Part of that is also because of a change in structure in the d-zone that has the centers exiting the zone higher. Under Johnston, there was a fixation on the center supporting the d-men down low and behind the net to defend the cycle at almost all times.
Now the centers’ are more in a read and react situation whether to provide support below the net or not, similar to a centers role under Bylsma.
We saw again tonight the systematic changes in place led to a more offensive brand of hockey.
What the Penguins are not getting is results under Sullivan, just two wins in eight games, no 5 v 5 goals last two games, and they’re playing dangerous hockey.
The Penguins were the chasing the game. Toronto jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, got the Penguins on their heels early and then it was back and forth from there.
The Penguins showed a good response and outshot Toronto 20-8 in the second period. A superior team like the Penguins are supposed to be should be building off that period and putting a team like the Leafs that is playing in back-to-backs away in the third.
It never happened in the third for Pittsburgh and situations like that this season are why the Penguins are currently not in a playoff spot.
Instead the Penguins were extremely sloppy with the puck, giving up two breakaways and several high danger scoring chances in the third period.
All season we’ve been waiting for this group to find another level and the third period was another example where it’s been missing more often than not on a nightly basis.
With the entertaining hockey and high shot totals, I’m sure some and maybe a majority will be looking at this game as a positive for the Penguins but the reality is there was more bad than good from the Penguins’overall play.
Bernier was really good but against one of the worst goaltenders in the NHL in being able to square up shooters and take proper angles, the Penguins were not consistent enough in taking away Bernier’s sight lines.
The Dallas Stars don’t just score a ton because they are one of the NHL’s most skilled teams. They also score so often because they are one of the best teams in the league at taking a goaltenders sight lines away. It starts with Jamie Benn who is the closest thing to Eric Lindros over the last 20 years.
That comes back to how this Penguins’ team is built and why a coaching change might be a start to putting a better foundation in place in how they should be playing, but there’s a personnel issue at the forward ranks that is going to have the Penguins struggling to earn a playoff spot.To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
A I told to Habs fans once 3rd 4th line contribution the team will be in trouble since they didn’t upgrade their top 6 with semin and kassian , it came true. Just like I said last few years pens success was the pp once that drys the team will choke because they are horrible 5v5 because pens have too many star egos to go the dirty area
In the 5 previous season the Pens have been 9th, 4th, 2nd, 14th, 10th in 5on5 goal differential so as usual you’re completely wrong and still a tard that knows nothing about hockey.
okay paid blogger. don’t the pens give you new years day off?
No. They understand that educating morons like you on the game of hockey requires 7-24-365 effort.
How bout Mike Therrien tho… sure wish we still had him
Habs don’t have sta player even if price comes back they won’t win reason of their success earlier this season was contribution by 3rd and 4th lines players like weise,mitchell fleichemen..and 2 potential top 6 moves end up being a bust kassian and the lazy Russian semjin
Don’t forget bad coaching.
Hey Mr. Stats GayDogg I know you been laughing on MT been bad since he lost price. Last I checked pens were out of playoffs Fleury was still in the roster and malkin crosby available. At least Habs are still in with bunch of grinders and not superstars like pens have
Hey Yoda you said get rid of the 09 roster guys. Looks like the 09 roster guys score tonight
Hornqvist wasn’t on the 09 roster.
Letang suckss stan
20 games a year, he’s doing the same thing during the game that your gay French ass is. Jerking off to men.
Crosby suckss trade him while he has value and make Stan happy
He finally on 60 point pace? He catch Artemi Panarin yet?
Come on clowns letang having good game let’s trade him since he has value and make Stan happy
Didn’t he take two penalties in the first? Isn’t that something you’d bitch about if he were russian? Seriously. Get fucked. You fat slob.
Id like to not hear 18 posts hit like I did last game before claiming Murray is anywhere near a franchise goalie. He made some nice saves and anticipated some plays very well for his age, especially on the double breakaway. (At 21, Fleury is so far out of position after making the initial save that the second breakaway is a gimme) But still, Fleury is some kind of awesome RIGHT NOW.
st.blurry is having a nice season. trade him now while he still has value. at least this year he won’t be able to suck in the post season because the pens will finish about 13th so the time is now.
Fleury also had a shitt team that wasn’t able to clear the front of the net after the first save
Have to like what we’ve seen from Murray so far, but it’s only been a handful of games. Get a better look and let him grow and mature before he gets handed the starting job, or at the very least let’s get a longer look at him.
Don’t forget Ty Conklin.
get rid of the 2009 gang. time to rebuild. this team sucks.
what does st.blurry give you for 5 million more per season that murray? the only thing i can think of are wrist shots from the blue line that sail over his shoulder in the playoffs. move st.blurry immediately! get all you can for him. he sucks.
Yeah. 21 years old. Played 4 games. We’re probably good. Nevermind the wunderkind with the Cup ring.
keep on living in 2009 when the pens cared.
Sometimes i go back to 2009 in my head – and you know what? You were just as dumb then.
you think the pens are a cup team like rutherford and we all know how dumb he is. you supported the despres for lovejoy trade. way to go.
Only you would try to pretend swapping #6 dmen being the reason this isn’t a Cup contender. What i DO think, is that you probably need help wiping your ass after you take a shit.
LOL, actually no I didnt… I thought it was bad a trade you fucking ass hat I just didnt think it was the detrimental trade some did.
With that in mins I am sure we would be better off with his 4 whole games this year… dumb fuck
Which is an amazing accomplishment because I actually dont recall yodumbass on the board then lol
HAHAHAHA… the goals he gave up vs TO were “MAF soft” you dumb fuck. Murray is the real deal but isnt ready yet, you dont trade the mentor who is playing the best hockey of his career right now you dumb fucking moron
if rutherford doesn’t get shit canned before the deadline guaranteed he tries to move murray. he is still talking stanley cup with a 12th place team. this organization is the laughing stock of the NHL.
Kind of like how you and sam are the laughing stock of TIOPS.
you and jay(paid blogger boy) are the laughing stock. i told you the pens were a crappy team this year and you were preaching deep playoff runs. who was the only one who said they would miss the playoffs this year? that’s right, your prophet did.
I don’t remember making a prediction either way. Only thinking “well, yogurt is generally pretty stupid, so that probably means they’ll win the cup.” Blind squirrel / acorn type of thing. You throw enough shit at the wall, you’re going to be right eventually. Doesn’t mean you aren’t galactically stupid.
Let’s just hope this prediction is as accurate as the rest of your goalie predictions. I can live with a 100000000000/1 chance of you being right and Murray being moved.
College sports are awesome. You gotta love the pride and passion that the athletes carry with them. While some may be playing for a future paycheck, most are playing because they love the competition and it shows. Best part is, they respect each other as human beings, not as Ancient Roman Gladiators. Why? For as much as the NCAA gets wrong, they certainly make it known that playing in their league is a privilege that can be stripped away at a moments notice. If the NHL ran its league with half the balls as the NCAA we’d see stars allowed… Read more »
Yeah the Bowl games are a blast, especially the two biggies coming up today. The ACC seems to be getting worked over. I like Clemson though even as a slight underdog. I also really hope MSU can pull an upset just to see the distraught look on Sabans face.
Kinda like the way Sam is with food – to Joey Chestnut, it’s just a job- but for Sam, he still pounds down a cheeseburger and poutine with the fervor that competitive eaters can’t even fathom.
Is it wrong that I still basically like this forward group on paper? The blueline needs an additional top 4 defenseman, but mostly, the team’s problems seem to be a majority of players badly underperforming their career averages. There are some brutal shooting percentages from guys who are expected to score goals: Crosby 7.8%, Hornqvist 5.7%, Perron 5.3%, Letang 1.3%. Maybe you expect some drop off with a player like Kunitz at 36 (7.5%), but all of those guys are 27 or 28. I don’t know why it’s not coming together and it’s maddening to sit through at the moment,… Read more »
Its wrong because you express optimism. Its better to act like all hope is lost forever and that suicide is the only way out. Other than that, I agree that the players you mentioned, and even more than that, have been allergic to finishing. Sullivan has built a more offensive system and while it seems like the players are executing, the comfort level of a new system may not totally be there yet. Who knows, it could come together, or it can continue to be one of the worst products in the worst pro sports league. But if nothing else,… Read more »
Yeah, that’s my bad. Woe and despair to all the sorry lot who claim fandom to the flightless bird, for we band of miserable malcontents are inevitably fated to perpetual futility.
On a brighter note, has anyone noticed the stellar coaching job MT is doing without the best goalie in the league? 4-11-1 since Price went down and 11-13-3 overall o the season without Price. Coach Fraud is sure to win the Adams Award with numbers like that.
LOL, I mentioned exactly this on the Original Six Draft page lol
https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/682369354613309440
At least it’s still ahead of NASCAR and Golf…lol
NHL beat out a sport where cars go in circles for hours. Striving for excellence.
Does anyone really care? I mean, I don’t need other people to like something for me to like it. I wish less people watched hockey. It would cost me less to go. The athletes and owners would make less, and be less intolerant privileged ass holes. I probably wouldn’t have to listen to sam pontificate as if he actually knows something. I’m perfectly fine with a cult following.
Apparently npl didn’t find last night’s game entertaining enough. That fool was expecting 10 goals maybe or a ping pong match
I thought last night’s game was very entertaining. Pitt didn’t have their best shooting performance but the determination on the boards, especially in the offensive zone, was a key to their hard fought victory against Syracuse. Should be an exciting season once again.
Like it or not fleury will be pens all time best goalie for a long time and Murray won’t break his records
Another disappointing game overall. Managed to make the leagues worst goaltender look like Patrick Roy. Team as a whole looks better but they are still allergic to getting the job done. Shot selection has even started to improve. Everything they should be doing to win seems to be there except they cant score. Thank god we are lotto protected… now I am gunning for Matthews at which point we can unload a big contract, I dont even care which one at this point.
“Have not missed Fleury one bit” – except in the shootout. Murray has a lot of one on one work to do, an area MAF excels at and continued to do so as the bottom fell out in 2012 and 13
Totally agree with this – boy does Murray make himself look small in the net. But it’s a minor qualm. He played great, and has looked really sharp in all games he’s been in up here. Still not in a hurry to move Fleury immediately. But it sure looks like you might have a clear replacement down the road.
He is a kid and he will learn… this is why I like the idea on MAF mentoring him. Murray looks like the real deal and with some seasoning and some tips from a great one on one goalie he could round out into an amazing overall goalie
Soon or later teams will know Murray weak side as he made 3 breakaway save and did same move all 3 times and in shout out too. I did see Murray potential to be number 1 goalie but has a lot of work in front of him fleury still has 3 years all depends how Murray progress
Well thank christ YOU saw potential. I mean, you’re a fat tub of goo with barely any sense whatsoever – why would ANYONE care what YOU saw? Like you’re a fucking scout somewhere.
Only thing you probably saw last night was your ice cream dropping on your belly and that’s the farthest you can look fatty
Go fish chubby. I went out for mexican. I ate nothing at the game. keep shoving that poutine and dick in your mouth.
Trade Fleury while his value is high? Novel idea. DePaoli, text me and I’ll send you more original ideas and observations.
Proofread. Cmon dude.
Murray is too young still need games AND maturity if that progress fast then fleury can be traded on his last year of his contract if Murray doesn’t progress fast then expect fleury get another 2 year extension when contract is up.
Wow so one good game and Murray is God. What’s next trade fleury. Leafs hit the crossbar 5 times. In sure if half went in people here wouldn’t drool over Murray now
I was there – there weren’t five crossbars hit.
You were probably taking selfies or eating I watched the game and sportsnet said it leafs had 5 and pens had 2 and I saw and heard it. Kinda hard to believe you didn’t even hear in that museum. Oh yeah forgot last night was noisy because there was a lot of leafs fans
5 of them. They hit the cross bar five times. Like I said – I was there – didn’t happen. Quit making things up.
Shocker! Pens lose you write a negative article. Hack